Sheeza Basharatalmost 2 years ago

Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancies and Roe v Wade. Ectopic pregnancies are unfortunately quite common. I see them all the time in the lab, usually within fallopian tubes. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus. This can happen in a number of different locations in the pelvis including the fallopian tubes, connective tissue around the uterus, and the abdomen (image 1). Ectopic pregnancies are not considered viable pregnancies since they are not in the uterus and cannot survive to term. If an ectopic pregnancy progresses, it will eventually rupture and cause bleeding or organ damage that will likely kill the person. It's a terribly upsetting and scary situation to be in. An ectopic pregnancy is considered a medical emergency. If it's caught early enough, a chemotherapy drug called Methotrexate can be administered to treat it. Methotrexate interferes with folate metabolism, which stops embryonic cells from dividing. If the ectopic pregnancy is too far along, it must be surgically removed. There have been some concerns about how the Dobbs v Jackson ruling will affect the treatment of ectopic pregnancies (image 3). It's important to understand that ectopic pregnancies do not fall into the same category as abortion, even in the most conservative of states. All states allow for the treatment of ectopic pregnancies and view them as medical emergencies. If you have this condition, you should not be denied treatment. There is unfortunately also a disconnect between medicine and the law. Methotrexate can also be used for abortions so the law needs to be very clear about its administration and should not excessively scrutinize the usage of Methotrexate in cases of ectopic pregnancy.